Event News

SEIU is urging all of it’s members to vote NOon the voter restriction and anti-marriage amendments this fall. We believe they will have unintended consequences.

Why do unions care about these amendments? We care because unions are about the dignity of all people. We are a movement that is about dignity and respect. We fight for the dignity of our workers and respect for the work each member does. We stand for civil and human rights for all people, because we understand that what diminishes one, diminishes all.

The purpose of this demonstration of the labor community’s support to defeat the freedom-limiting amendments regarding marriage and voter ID. Provide tools for attendees to take action, from immediately following the event through November 6. Although labor-sponsored, all are welcome.

1:00 Program: Welcome: National Anthem, recognize distinguished guests; Union leader on why we are here; Brief testimonials by rank and file members on both issues; Musical guests; Mass tweet/Facebook posting; Main speech from political leader; Call to action; Closing sing-along

As you may know, our friends at Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL) have been working for improved wages and working conditions for retail cleaning workers across the Twin Cities. CTUL has for some time, been calling on Diversified Maintenance which employs workers who clean Sears, Kmart, Target and Best Buy stores across the Twin Cities, to meet with their employees to discuss fair wages and safe working conditions.

In October 2011, ten Minnesota workers filed a lawsuit against Diversified, charging that the company required many of them work up to 80 hours per week without overtime pay. And last month, seventeen Diversified workers filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) alleging violations of their right to a safe workplace.

These types of allegations are, unfortunately, not new. Earlier this year CTUL uncovered that Diversified Maintenance Systems has had six lawsuits and one Department of Labor investigation alleging violations of Wage and Hour Law just in the past five years.

It’s time for us to stand with our brothers and sisters at CTUL to call on Diversified Maintenance System to meet with the workers. Join us on September 29th for the CTUL Day of Action & Reflection to stand up for justice for retail cleaning workers! We’ll march outside the Kmart store in Minneapolis for the action, and then hold a convening to reflect upon this campaign and other successful social justice campaigns from across the country.

SEIU Minnesota members, their families, friends and allies in solidarity will celebrate this year’s 2012 May Day Festival in Minneapolis. This is the 38th year for the event and theme is: “The End of The World as We Know it. The Beginning as we Live it Now.” SEIU will be gathering for the parade at Noon at the Cedar Field at east 25th and 18th Ave. S of Minneapolis. We also will be staffing an information table in Powderhorn Park.

May First is known as International Workers Day and it has an important historical root in U.S. History dating back to the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, when Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for the eight hour workday, killing several demonstrators and resulting in the deaths of several police officers, largely from friendly fire.

Today, in the U.S., It is recognized as a day which celebrates the 99% of us who are hard working and middle class. We will call for a more fair economy where everyone, including the richest 1%, pay their fair share in taxes. We will call for our elected leaders to focus on creating more jobs, access to affordable and quality health care.

Put on your walking shoes and Join us! The Workers United Will Never Be Divided. We Are Stronger Together!

If you can, join us tomorrow for the May 1st March for Immigrant and Workers Rights at 3:30pm. The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee has been a driving force in organizing an annual May 1st march and is continuing that tradition this year. This year’s march will focus on the ongoing struggle of immigrant workers in Minnesota as well as the struggle of all workers to defend our rights from hostile politicians. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota is an endorsing organization of this year’s march. Join us in the streets as we stand up with our fellow Minnesotans and celebrate a day for all working people!

Banks, and other big corporations across the United States are receiving huge tax breaks while foreclosures, schools cuts, and antiimmigrant politicians hurt our families. We know that Wells Fargo is a tax-dodger, and received 17.96 billion in tax breaks over the last three years, and even received $681 million in federal tax refunds.

We need to tell U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo to pay their fair share, stop foreclosures and keep their hands off our democracy. No more tax breaks for the 1%!

Join us for a rally on Tuesday, April 17th from 11:00am – 1:00pm outside of the U.S. Bank Shareholders Meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Following the rally, we’ll march to Wells Fargo Center in downtown Minneapolis. Tell bank CEOs that we have to pay our taxes, and so should they!

Before the march and rally on the 17th learn how we can use direct action as a tactic in a strategic campaign at the 99% Spring Direct Action Training. You’ll learn how we can take action to create great change in this country, then plan and carry out an action!

It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays, and while many Americans are uncertain about what the new year will bring, Big Banksters can expect huge bonuses as 2011 ends. It’s time to call attention to these outrageous pay outs while funding is cut to revenue-starved public services.

WHAT:

December Bank Bonuses Action

WHEN:

Friday, December 16, 2011, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Meet at the Hennepin County Government Center

300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN

WHY:

To draw attention to the outrageous bonuses that bank executives are expected to receive this month. We are expecting around $100 billion total to get handed out this year.

Service Employees Express Support for Occupy Wall Street’s Minnesota Occupation

Occupy Wall Street Raising Issues of Greed, Inequity, Need for Jobs

Saint Paul, MN – Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Minnesota State Council and Locals cheer on the voice of the Occupy Wall Street movement in speaking to the failure of our elected officials and large financial institutions to address the current economic and unemployment crisis that they created and stand for the 99% of Americans harmed by the jobs and economic crisis by demanding that the other 1%, Wall Street CEOs and millionaires, pay their fair share to create good jobs now.

SEIU Minnesota State Council and Healthcare Minnesota President Julie Schnell stated, “The Occupy Wall Street movement, and the related efforts of OccupyMN, spring from anger that those who caused the economic crisis, giant banks and Wall Street CEOs, have utterly failed to either face the consequences of their actions or pay their fair share to put Americans back to work and create the good jobs we so desperately need.”

SEIU Local 284 Executive Director Carol Nieters added, “Millions of Americans, including members of SEIU and the labor movement have been demanding that Wall Street and powerful interests be held accountable for the damage their reckless behavior has wracked on our economy and begin to pay their fair share. By putting their bodies on the line, Occupy Wall Street activists have given a powerful new expression to the hopes of people all over the country.”

Occupy Wall Street, operating locally under the name OccupyMN, is planning to occupy the Hennepin County Government Center Plaza starting Friday, October 7, 2011. On October 5, 2011, SEIU issued a union-wide endorsement of support for Occupy Wall Street and its message about shrinking income inequality, investing in public education, and making the rich pay their fair share in taxes.